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Hotel Ruby
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
901 W 1st AvenueSpokane, WA 99201
(509) 747-1041
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 9 am
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
10 reviews for Hotel Ruby
10 reviews in English
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Review from Will W.
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Clean hotel. Great location close to all bars, shopping, parks, sites. Friendly and efficient service with good advice. Funky cool ruby red style.
Yes, it's a refurbed motel but now it's a funky chic motel and it's very good at what it is. Nothing sketchy (like one reviewer said) or the least bit unnerving about this place or this city.
Loved it! -
Review from Scott M.
Petaluma, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Kind of a pig with lipstick. Motel dressed up to appear edgy.
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Review from Clover A.
5/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A-OK Yelp says for a 3 star review.
So, yeah, I'd say Hotel Ruby is A-OK for sure.
Arrived, checked in, had a hiccup compared to what the staff on the phone told me - who was super helpful but a little uninformed- but it all worked out fine. Staff were always courteous and friendly. Maid service was great as well. A+ for sure. Lounge still not finished, but it'll be a really nice addition when it is.
Took my bags up the stairs and found room to be well appointed but small as described, smelled yummy, sheets/bed were super comfy with a high enough threadcount for my prissy needs, the iPod dock worked great, TV on the wall, bathroom was small but had it all: Towels were plush and smelled really clean, soaps/shampoos and bodywash all nice.
Fridge, microwave, closet, luggage rack, hangers. Extra blankie.
All good.
So why only 3 stars?
Noise. It's not the fault of the hotel, and granted, it was Lilac Parade weekend, but overall it seemed that next to Dempsey's and across from the Knitting Factory, a block from some other places, it's a little hotbed of yelling and general Spokanity fueled mishegas from about 1am-4am.
I'll for sure stay here again. It was nice and a great deal. Don't let the noise keep you from staying either, just bring a sleeping pill and/or take the earplugs they offer... even better, stay in a room tucked into the corners.Listed in: Spokanity Abounds
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Review from Craig B.
Alameda, CA
7/16/2011
Hotel Ruby - Not a Gem
As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression, and the Hotel Ruby made a terrible one. It was clear from the hotel's website that it aims at hipsters. What it doesn't make clear is that the hotel is a remade motel in a sketchy part of downtown Spokane that seeks the business of painfully cool hipsters by being a painfully cool hotel, staffed by surly clerks who are too cool to be bothered to do their job in a professional manner.
Arriving after a long day on the road on June 27, 2011, and navigating the seedy part of downtown Spokane, we arrived at the Hotel Ruby. I had made a reservation on the hotel's website, which is linked to the historic Davenport Hotel. Parking our truck was a challenge. Apparently all the hipsters can fit their Priuses and Mini Coopers nicely in the tiny covered spaces.
I went to the front desk to check in, planning to pay cash for the room (I would have been content to pay for the room using my debit card but hotels often place a hold on hundreds of dollars for several days). I was told by the desk clerk, Sarah Marie, that I had two choices: pay for the room with a credit card or pay cash plus a $150 cash deposit. I explained that I was mainly using a debit card on my trip and didn't want access to my money blocked for up to several days after actually paying for the room and also didn't feeling like handing over so much additional cash. Sarah Marie was surly and condescending, saying those were the only two policies. I showed per my printout of the reservation and asked her to point out the hotel's payment policies. She curtly replied, "No, it's not there but it's the policy." Ms. SM already made it clear she was tired of me, and when I argued that the policy should have been on the website so I could have planned accordingly she suddenly said, "If you will let me finish, you could also pay for the room in cash and put a $50 deposit on a credit card." Whatever; I took that option and it took several days to get my $50 released.
I then paid for the room in cash and gave her my debit card for the deposit. She casually tossed my change on the desk. As I noticed others who were waiting to check in and who were elsewhere on the property, I realized why the hotel wants lots of money up front: damage done by irresponsible youngsters for whom hygiene and shaving are optional and usually ignored.
After leaving the front office, Better Half and I discussed the incident. I said that the clerk was a rude witch (or something that rhymes with 'witch'); BH said she was just an idiot. We agreed that she was just a idiotic witch who thinks she's too cool for her job.
Our room, 204, was up two strange flights of stairs (inconsistent rises between steps), facing the brick walls of two adjacent buildings and a side view of the elevated railroad tracks. This savory environment also included a noisy (and smelly) exhaust fan from the restaurant next door and the trains constantly passing.
The room itself was nice, as noted in other reviews. But the property's lowly origins were obvious. Walking around at night means watching your back and trying to avoid the bums all over the sidewalks. Also, and there's no delicate way of putting this, a distinct smell wafted into our noses once inside our room: a combination of body odor and, um, intimate activity. That's right; the room smelled like sweaty sex. I'm certain the carpet was the culprit of these odors (besides guests who gave no consideration for the impact of their actions), which made me question the cleanliness of the hotel and just what it is used for by some customers. The drippy stains on the headboard panel also confirmed some of what goes on in these rooms and that these messes are not cleaned up very well. Disgusting.
Checking out was a better experience than checking in. The front desk clerk was pleasant and perky; no doubt helped by the pack of Dorals and a Big Gulp beside her on the front counter. It obviously didn't bother the customers (at least I'm assuming they were customers, but most slackers look the same to me) milling about the small lobby chatting loudly away, making it difficult to communicate while checking out. Apparently there was a continental breakfast, but I didn't see it and no employee ever mentioned it.
One other thing: after checking in we went over to the Davenport Hotel to dine at the Fireside restaurant. Even though the restaurant was not full, the hostess, Nicole, gave us a look and informed us casually that there would be a 25 minute wait. We left, assuming that perhaps our hair (or BH's skin) wasn't white enough to fit in.
Attitude comes from the top down, and given that the Hotels Ruby and Davenport are sister properties, it is obvious that the ownership does not value customer service - or customers. We will never return to either property. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Wausau, WI
12/23/2010
Solid choice when in Spokane. We stayed here for close to a week recently and found it to be well priced, comfortable, clean and in a really great location. Office staff was super nice and helpful. I'm actually excited to go back and stay here again when we're back in Spokane. I look forward to the completion of the Sapphire Lounge and whatever other changes they'll be making.
Beds were way comfy, linens were good. Strangely their pillows were a bit too fluffy and such for me... but well, how often does one have that sort of complaint? Loved the fridge, microwave and little coffee pot in the room, loved having two sinks...one in and one out of the bathroom. The TV was nice sized. The rooms are quite small but they aren't stuffed silly with a bunch of unnecessary furniture which I really appreciated. Continental breakfast offered amazing Mighty Leaf brand tea, good bagels and such.
Really, this is a solid choice in Spokane and I'm a bit picky when it comes to hotels. It has a bit of character and yes, you can tell it is renovated and updated from an older motel, but I find that it adds to the charm. They've done a fabulous job so far. Good walkability. Solid choice for sure. -
Review from Prudence M.
Fullerton, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hotel ruby is really cool. It's a remodeled crappy motel, which makes it unique and adventurous. The decor is rad and the sapphire lounge looks like a lot of fun. It's right in downtown so it's by all the bars and cool spots. It's affordable too, we got our room with two full beds for 100 a night on one of those trip websites. It was cheap o tickets or something like that. The room is clean, bathroom is clean. (the hot and cold in the shower is mislabeled tho) and there's also a fridge and microwave. I like this hotel a lot and I'll be staying here every time I come to Spokane.
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Review from Brian G.
8/30/2010 5 Check-ins Here
(I originally wrote this after a June stay... read the bottom for my updated stay thoughts after this weekend.)
Ok... so I've stayed at this property when it was the Rodeway more than my fair share of times. The location is perfect --- restaurants/bars/theatre/shopping --- all within walking distance. When it was the Rodeway it was a total dump -- it smelled, the beds were horrible, the hot water never worked, you had to crawl over transients to get to your room, etc. But none of that mattered because you were only paying $60 a night and could walk (or crawl at the end of the night) to any location you wanted downtown.
When I stayed here in June, the changes were pretty stunning on first glance. Fresh paint, fresh carpet.. no passed out hookers to trip over. I was disappointed now, though, with the fact that the rates had gone up to nearly $100/night. (I've since checked again and they've come back down to almost what they were in the Rodeway days.. so I'm pleased.) And sadly, the room did not warrant the rate. The bathtubs were still the same crappy tubs with old fixtures. And most disturbingly, the HVAC and in-room fridge units were the same and had not been replaced in the renovation. Our fridge was shattered on the inside and the HVAC was rusted and rotting. Not $100/night amenities.
Now... I'm going back because they've lowered the rates, and the extra $10-$15 a night is worth it for their new beds which are amazing. I think this was the first visit I'd ever actually slept through the night and that's worth a lot to me.
Bottom line: As long as the rates stay lower; they can get away with the rough edges, but if they creep back up, I'll go down the street and pay slightly more for a whole lot more.
***Updated after a stay on August 28th.***
The A/C in Room 201 doesn't work and the new paint smell has worn off and replaced with the smell of the old Rodeway (should have gotten that new Dutch Boy Arm & Hammer paint, eh?) When we called down to the front desk about the A/C, the agent came up and tried to fix it but nothing worked --- still the same ancient units I posted pictures of before --- so he left us with the advice, "Well, you should be fine, it's supposed to be cool tonight." This might have worked... if you could open the windows.
At check-out, a $15 deduction was taken from our account. I guess I value my sleeping without being drenched a little higher, but it was all they'd do. I think I'll try the Montvale or the Lusso on my next trip. -
Review from Heather R.
Great Falls, MT
6/20/2011
Excellent location! friendly service! Neat rooms! we were a bit unhappy with the fluctuating temperatures in the shower, but everything else was grand. We will certainly stay here again if we need a place to crash in Spokane! Being so close to the downtown is the best!
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Review from Monica D.
Walnut Creek, CA
8/6/2011
Great downtown location--across the street from The Davenport (only 4 star hotel in Spoane).
The Pro's
- smart, contemporary remodel of an otherwise mediocre property
- comfortable beds, average size rooms
The Con's
- noisy. Our room was facing 1st St. and street noise was quite loud.
- didn't see an elevator, so be ready to cart your bags up the stairs.
- because it is a great value, there's a pretty mixed crowd. We were "greeted" in the parking lot by a young woman who was obviously high (eyes red, swollen & almost half shut). While my husband was checking in and me and my kids waited in the car, she had me roll down the windown to give me the lowdown of Spokane: it sucked but it was a great place to party.
- we tried to extend our stay but were told we'd have to switch to 2 full beds from 2 queens. We were willing to do this but were told we'd have to pack our bags back in the car and check back in when the new room was ready. Really?!? We promptly booked a room at The Davenport and rolled our bags across the street. They had told they would store our bags until check- in time. Instead, we were allowed to check-in early, nice!
As we were leaving the parking lot (after we had alreay checked-in across te street), the guy from the front desk came out to tell us he coud accommodate us...too little, too late.
I realize some of what happened was outside of their control (wasted tenant, low vacancy) but they need to work on their customer service. -
Review from Alex J.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Just remodel Hotel, nice beds, ok bathrooms, not expensive... I will stay here if I come to Spokane again... Near to bars and restaurants.
